Island 2016 - Dale's Reconnaissance Mission

On May 21, Dale went up to the Island for his yearly reconnaissance mission and to bring his bike up. He posted this picture on his blog accompanied with the following text:

"I’m in the ridiculously busy part of my work year - moving to Madeline Island on June 2 for seven weeks. Ugh. Anyway, I am here this weekend delivering some supplies and dropping off my bike. I took this picture because whenever I tell people about the golf course on Madeline Island, I always say it was designed by Terence Trent D'Arby and people look at me like I’m insane. Clearly I’m not a golfer."

Reconnaissance Mission 2015 Part 3

Monday, May11, 2015

Photo taken by Dale while waiting on the ferry in the Bayfield harbor. The land in the distance is Madeline Island. Had it been winter, there would have been an ice road and an easy 10 minute drive.

Reconnaissance Mission 2015 Part 2

Another journal entry of Dale's from Sunday, May 10th:

"So close and yet so far. I drove 4.5 hours to Bayfield, WI today to catch the ferry for the three mile ferry ride to Madeline Island with a minivan packed to the gills with work related items. I was shooting for the 7:00 pm boat but realized mid-way through the drive that if I really pushed it, I could catch the 5:30 pm boat. These are the last two trips of the day. 

Well, I pushed and I pushed and I drove onto the ferry dock at 5:34 and they had just brought up the gate and started off. Oh well, I thought, I’ll get some dinner and wait for the 7:00. I had noticed during the drive that it was pretty windy. What I didn’t realize is that there is a gale warning for this part of Lake Superior and that 5:30 was the last boat before they closed down because of the gale. They’re not sure they’ll be running any boats tomorrow.

From my vantage point in the hotel in Bayfield I am stuck in, I can almost see my office on the island. Three miles. Might as well be 2,000. 

At first I was frustrated but then I kind of let myself enjoy the idea that, for all our technological and mechanical advances, the weather can still trump all of that. I took an exhilarating walk in the gale, finally walking out on the town pier where a wave broke on the pier directly in front of me, soaking me with 36 degree wind-blown Lake Superior water. I scurried back to the hotel, stripped and took a hot shower, appreciating the technological advances that make it possible for me now to be warm and dry and posting the story of this ridiculous day on the inter webs."

Reconnaissance Mission 2015 Part 1

Dale went on his yearly pre-camp reconnaissance mission on Sunday, May 10th (a week ago today). Here is his journal entry for that day:

"Later today I will make my first trip to Madeline Island to prepare for the camp season, and will be moving up there in early June for five weeks.  I have been so busy preparing for the trip that I didn’t stop to think about how I feel about actually making the trip.

While I like being on Lake Superior and on the island and am looking forward to the complete silence and dearth of people that comes with a trip there in mid-May, I know the craziness that is yet to come.  I know I will rally and enjoy it, but right now I wonder how I can possibly do this for the umpteenth time.  I also wonder what June is like in Minneapolis.  I haven’t spent a June here since 2001.  I may be getting a little fatigued with all of this.  Ah well, plenty of time to think about that on the drive!"

Reconnaissance 2014

Dale's on the Island this weekend for his yearly pre-season reconnaissance. He texted me this photo of ice on the lake from his ferry ride over. I don't believe there has still been ice on the lake in May in a good number of years.

Beach Club 2012

Dale took this photo of the Beach Club from the ferry on his most recent trip pre-season trip to the Island (see previous post). He said the weather was gorgeous; pleasant and a little warmer than usual for this time of year. He particularly likes it in May and early June because it's so quiet and not overrun with tourists. Here's a recent post from his blog:

"This weekend I had to go to Madeline Island, Wisconsin for work. Madeline Island is where I live six weeks in June and July. It's quite a lovely place, especially this early in the season. By the Fourth of July, given my druthers, I would roll in broken glass than have to be around the swarming hordes who descend on the island to celebrate and pretend the rules of the road/behavior/public drunkeness don't apply to them because, you know, they're on an island. But I am getting ahead of myself. This weekend was glorious - 70 degrees, bright sun, a gentle breeze. In fact, the only thing you could hear was the breeze in the trees, birds and water. It was magical."

Here We Go Again... 2012

Dale went up to Madeline Island this weekend to get the lay of the land for the upcoming season. He always makes an earlier May weekend trip before leaving for the new season at the very end of the month. There had been some trouble earlier with the camp's center flooding but it seems that the repairs are right on track. I can't believe we're just about a couple of weeks away from his leaving. Dale took this photo of the Wisconsin mainland on his return trip from the ferry.